No. 33 Squadron RAAF
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| 33 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | February 1942 - |
| Branch | RAAF |
| Role | Air to Air Refuelling, Logistics |
| Part of | 84 Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | RAAF Base Richmond |
| Motto | Enduring |
| Aicraft | Boeing 707 |
| Insignia | |
| Callsign | WINDSOR, DRAGON |
No. 33 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. It was formed in 1942 and is currently based at RAAF Base Richmond where it operates modified Boeing 707 aircraft in the strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling roles.
Contents |
[edit] History
No. 33 Squadron was formed at Townsville in February 1942. It deployed to Port Moresby in January 1943 where it provided air transport to Australian forces in New Guinea. After the war the Squadron ferried service personnel back to Australia before being disbanded in 1946.
The Squadron was re-formed in 1981 as No. 33 Flight RAAF, a strategic transport unit equipped with two modified Boeing 707s. In this role it was also responsible for providing long-range transport to Australian VIPs. Due to the political difficulty of spending public funds on new VIP aircraft the 707 fleet continued to perform these duties long after the high ongoing maintenance costs made it uneconomic. The age of the aircraft meant that Australian ambassadors often had to request special waivers of noise regulations from foreign governments prior to official visits by Australian VIPs.
In 1983, with the acquisition of two further 707s, the unit was again reorganised as No. 33 Squadron. Additional aircraft were purchased in the late 1980s and four airframes converted to provide air-to-air refuelling for the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornet fighters, while the remaining 707s continued in the transport role. In 1989 the Squadron helped ferry members of the Australian public when the two domestic airlines were grounded during an industrial dispute.
No. 33 Squadron's current primary role is providing air-to-air refuelling for the RAAF's F/A-18s. As the 707s are only equipped with a probe-and-drogue system they are not capable of refuelling the F-111 bombers. The Squadron provided air-to-air refuelling support to Coalition forces in the Middle East in 1998 and Afghanistan in 2002.
The Squadron will be re-equipped with Airbus A330 MRTT tanker-transport aircraft from 2009. These aircraft will be fitted with both probe-and-drogue and boom systems. The unit is expected to relocate to RAAF Base Amberley when these aircraft are delivered.[1]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Air Force News. "New tankers to take on many roles"
[edit] References
- RAAF Museum 33 Squadron
- Roylance, Derek (1991). Air Base Richmond. RAAF Base Richmond: Royal Australian Air Force. ISBN 0646052128.
[edit] External links
- Sqn Ldr Charles Raymond "Bob" Gurney AFC CO 33SQN KIA 2 May 1942
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